The Illinois cop whose September shooting death set off an intensive manhunt for his alleged killers “carefully staged” his own suicide after spending seven years stealing thousands of dollars from his department’s youth program, police said.

The cop — an Army veteran affectionately known as “G.I. Joe” — died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while on duty Sept. 1.

“There are no winners here,” Lake County Major Crime Task Force Cmdr. George Filenko said. “Gliniewicz committed the ultimate betrayal to the citizens he served and the entire law enforcement community. The facts of his actions prove he behaved for years in a manner completely contrary to the image he portrayed.”

From left, Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd, Major Crime Task Force Cmdr. George Filenko and Sheriff's Detective Chris Covelli, confirm that Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz died Sept. 1 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a press conference on Wednesday.

At least two people were involved in the years of crime, police said. They did not provide further information citing the ongoing investigating. But detectives are looking into whether Gliniewicz’s wife Melodie and his son D.J. are involved with the scheme, sources told WFLD-TV Wednesday night.

The Gliniewiczes declined to comment on that report through a statement their lawyer issued.

Gliniewicz was found shot to death in September.

(Facebook)

"Today has been another day of deep sorrow for the Gliniewicz Family," the statement said. "The family has cooperated with the task force’s investigation and will not comment at this time."

Gliniewicz helped manage the Explorer program — and his years mocking up crime scenes for the trainees helped him stage his own death, officials said. He took elaborate steps to try to make it look like he died in a struggle, including shooting himself twice in the torso.

Gliniewicz's death set off a large, expensive manhunt for his alleged killers.

(Stacey Wescott/AP)

The officer’s death became part of the national discussion about excessive force by police, and he was held up as a hero.

Just before he died, Gliniewicz radioed that he was chasing three suspicious men on foot. Backup officers later found his body 50 yards from his squad car.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Gliniewicz was the subject of a federal sexual harassment lawsuit.

Fox Lake Police Officer Denise Sharpe accused Gliniewicz of offering to protect her job at the department in exchange for sexual favors. A judge later dismissed the lawsuit.